The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-04-21
THE FISHERIES.
Propositions Which viii Probably
Result In a Settlement Of the
Question.
Secretary Bayard Says there Is In
creasIng Interest in the Subject.
The Latest Proposals Originated
With Imperial Authorities.

WASHINGTON, April 2O.-The Secretary
OF State declines to either confirm the state
ment cabled from London to the effect that
Lord Salisbury has sent despatch to this
government on the subject of the fisheries of
fering to revert to the old conditions of
affairs without pecuniary indemnity. Secre-
tary .Bayard also declines to express any
opinion with regard to the subject matter of
despatch as cabled.
The subject matter of the despatch is not
exactly news in diplomatic circles. the same
proposition having emanated from Canadi-
an source some time ago. Well informed
persons incline to the Iopinion that the offer
referred to in the cablegram has been thus
indirectly and unofficially made as "feeler''
to ascertain, in advance of an actual tender,
how such proposition would be received by
the American people. As the representa-
tives of the United States, on the commits
sion that negotiated the Treaty of Washing
ton, and the Halifax commission which fixed
the award made to England for the use of
the Canadian in-shore fisheries. expressly de-
MED that the privilege accorded to United
States vessels Of fishing In Canadian waters
was more valuable than the concession made
to the Canadian fishermen of like privilege
in the waters of the United States and the
free entry of their fish, it is safe to assume
that the Department of State never enter
tanned the idea of renewing the Treaty of
washington With the understanding that a
cash indemnity was again to be paid Great
Britain for the right to enjoy the in-shore
fisheries OF Canadian waters.
Secretary Bayard today said that he was
glad to note the increasing interest mani
tested in the subject. He felt the people of
the country outside of Massachusetts had
never realized its Importance or appreciated
the gravity of the alternative left to the ad
mniStratlon-a declaration of non-inter
course-lf 1t failed to effect peaceable ad-
Justment of the differences between the
United States and Great Britain respecting
the construction of treaty rights of our
fishermen. Negotiations with Great Britain
retary hopes they will result in harmonious
and satisfactory understanding between that
country and the United States. So many
applications for information and copies of
the treaty of Washington have poured in
upon the department since the adjournment
Of Congress that. the 10000 copies of that
treaty printed for the use of the department
have been exhausted and fresh supply has
been ordered
OTTAWA, April 20-Sir John Mcdonald
the report cabled from En- gland regarding
for the settlement of the fishereries question,
although it was not strictly accurate as to
the terms. 1t is understood here that the
proposals in question originated with the
Imperial authorities, as the cabinet minis
ter said tonight they differed from the Ca
madam proposals. The feeling in parlia-
mentary circles is that the latest proposition
would on the whole be accepted by the Ca
nadians